Breakthrough Director

2012 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director WinnerBeasts of the Southern WildBenh ZeitlinFaced with both her hot-tempered father's fading health and melting ice-caps that flood her ramshackle bayou community and unleash ancient aurochs, six-year-old Hushpuppy must learn the ways of courage and love.Amazon2012 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director NomineesAquí y Allá: Here and ThereAntonio Méndez EsparzaAmazonFrancineBrian M. CassidyAmazonNow, ForagerJason CortlundAmazonSound of My VoiceZal BatmanglijAmazon

2011 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director WinnerPariahDee ReesA Brooklyn teenager juggles conflicting identities and risks friendship, heartbreak, and family in a desperate search for sexual expression.Amazon2011 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director NomineesAnother EarthMike CahillAmazonBellflowerEvan GlodellAmazonHigher GroundVera FarmigaAmazonMartha Marcy May MarleneSean DurkinAmazon

2009 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director WinnerBig FanRobert SiegelA hard-core New York Giants fan struggles to deal with the consequences when he is beaten up by his favorite player.Amazon2009 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director NomineesDon't Let Me DrownCruz AngelesAmazonEverything Strange and NewFrazer BradshawAmazonLymelifeDerick MartiniAmazon

2008 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director WinnerBallastLance HammerA drama set in the Mississippi delta, where one man's suicide affects three people's lives.Amazon2008 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director NomineesA Good Day to Be Black & SexyDennis DortchAmazonAfterschoolAntonio CamposAmazonMedicine for MelancholyBarry JenkinsAmazonSleep DealerAlex RiveraAmazon

2007 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director WinnerGreat World of SoundCraig ZobelWhen a man answers an advertisement to train as a record producer, he's excited by the prospect of signing undiscovered musicians, only to discover his new job isn't all it's cracked up to be.Amazon2007 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director NomineesDay Night Day NightJulia LoktevAmazonMunyurangaboLee Isaac ChungAmazonOwl and the SparrowStephane GaugerAmazonSeraphim FallsDavid Von AnckenAmazon

2006 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director WinnerHalf NelsonRyan FleckAn inner-city junior high school teacher with a drug habit forms an unlikely friendship with one of his students after she discovers his secret.Amazon2006 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director NomineesIn Between DaysSo Yong KimAmazonMan Push CartRamin BahraniAmazonSherrybabyLaurie CollyerAmazonThe KingJames MarshAmazon

2005 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director WinnerCapoteBennett MillerIn 1959, Truman Capote learns of the murder of a Kansas family and decides to write a book about the case. While researching for his novel In Cold Blood, Capote forms a relationship with one of the killers, Perry Smith, who is on death row.Amazon2005 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director NomineesJunebugPhil MorrisonAmazonMe and You and Everyone We KnowMiranda JulyAmazonSaving FaceAlice WuAmazonThe Talent Given UsAndrew WagnerAmazon

2004 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director WinnerMaria Full of GraceJoshua MarstonA pregnant Colombian teenager becomes a drug mule to make some desperately needed money for her family.Amazon2004 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director NomineesBrother to BrotherRodney EvansAmazonDown to the BoneDebra GranikAmazonOn the OutsLori SilverbushAmazonThe WoodsmanNicole KassellAmazon

2003 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director WinnerAmerican SplendorShari Springer BermanAn original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar.Amazon2003 Gotham Independent Film Award - Breakthrough Director NomineesPieces of AprilPeter HedgesAmazonRaising Victor VargasPeter SollettAmazonRoger DodgerDylan KiddAmazonThe Station AgentTom McCarthyAmazonWashington HeightsAlfredo Rodriguez de VillaAmazon